Proprietors (6)
I believe the answer is:
owners
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">proprietors</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('owner' can be a synonym of 'proprietor')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for owners that I've seen before include "Legal possessors" , "Worsen for possessors" , "Proprietors" , "Holders, possessors" , "Those in lawful possession, as of house" .)